IT is one of the highlights of the Glasgow annual events calendar, and this year our Scotswoman of the Year award celebrates its Golden Julibee.

The award marks and celebrates the achievements of exceptional women from all walks of life, and we are delighted today to be launching our latest search for the next incredible Scotswoman.

A woman like Tracy Cosgrove (2003) who set up a foundation to help Thai orphans, or Olivia Giles (2004) a successful lawyer who lost her hands and feet to meningitis but battled back to be a leading charity campaigner, or Eileen McCallum (2010) the celebrated actress who dedicated herself to raising awareness of muscle-wasting diseases after her grandsons developed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

That the awards have endured for half a century clearly demonstrates the chord they continue to strike not only with the women of Scotland but with everyone.

As reigning Scotswoman of the Year Dr Mary Hepburn explains today, the award can serve not only to reward the winner's personal efforts but also to raise the profile of whatever cause they espouse.

We know there are many, many women out there worthy of nomination for this year's contest.

And we look forward to hearing from you, our readers, the names of those you think are the truly inspiring women of 2012.

IT is one of the highlights of the Glasgow annual events calendar, and this year our Scotswoman of the Year award celebrates its Golden Julibee.

The award marks and celebrates the achievements of exceptional women from all walks of life, and we are delighted today to be launching our latest search for the next incredible Scotswoman.

A woman like Tracy Cosgrove (2003) who set up a foundation to help Thai orphans, or Olivia Giles (2004) a successful lawyer who lost her hands and feet to meningitis but battled back to be a leading charity campaigner, or Eileen McCallum (2010) the celebrated actress who dedicated herself to raising awareness of muscle-wasting diseases after her grandsons developed Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

That the awards have endured for half a century clearly demonstrates the chord they continue to strike not only with the women of Scotland but with everyone.

As reigning Scotswoman of the Year Dr Mary Hepburn explains today, the award can serve not only to reward the winner's personal efforts but also to raise the profile of whatever cause they espouse.

We know there are many, many women out there worthy of nomination for this year's contest.

And we look forward to hearing from you, our readers, the names of those you think are the truly inspiring women of 2012.